no lights at all

[nighteyes2017]

So i''m not into modelling cockpits or aircraft. I like to keep busy with static objects and groundstuff (to give us more things to put bombs on;)). Right now i'm trying to get my first model into dcs using 3dmax and the edm exporter. Its a very big hanger that can house about 40 planes.

 

i got it into modelviewer ok, and now i'm trying to create some lights. I'd like it to have some lighting on the outside at night, as well as on the inside. I experimented with self illumination, got that working fine too.

 

the problem however: I cant seem to get omnilights or spotlights to show up at all.

 

I've spend 3 days searching on the forum but all the information seems to be all about the cockpit and strobe lighting and animating that, or the information is 2 years or more old, and links are outdated. I just wanna know how to properly export the lights and get them to light up at night.

 

It is very hard to get to the right information if you're just starting with this stuff. Is there some magical manual or tutorial somewhere that i seem to be missing but everybody else already knows about? :(

[nighteyes2017]

So what i understand of omni and spotlights, also going from one of the youtube tutorials, is:

 

place a spotlight or omni in 3dmax, give it some intensity.

 

export edm, load it in modelviewer. It should turn up right?

[joey45]

It also needs a arg number. which one I'm not sure of.

[nighteyes2017]

yeah, i was experimenting with that. I found several post referring to that, but i can't seem to find any post or manual that show the basics on how this is supposed to work or when to use it.

 

i did find the YouTube tutorials in this thread:

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=217251&highlight=light

 

however when doing exactly what it says, it doesnt work for me.

 

i would be really useful if someone knew of a guide or simple step plan that covers the basic way this works in 3dmax, or maybe share a simple .max file that shows how to implement a omni or spotlight that, when exported, works in the modelviewer.

 

i also found some mentions about user defined object properties, but no clear info on what this is supposed to do and when to use it. Same for the arguments.

 

just testing in the dark here (until the omni lights turn on:))

[SVKSniper]

For omnilight define in object properties dialog window this line:

 

 

NO_CONNECTOR = 0;

[nighteyes2017]

For omnilight define in object properties dialog window this line:

 

done.

 

still not visible in the modelviewer.

[SVKSniper]

Can you make screen from 3ds max(with dialog window)?

[nighteyes2017]

[SVKSniper]

Try this export from max(it is 2016max file)

test_omni_light.rar

[SVKSniper]

You export omnilights with buildings or whitout? Change color to red or blue and test it....

[nighteyes2017]

cant open your file. im using max2014.

 

tried to change the color in my file. no change.

 

the omni is right next to a building wich i intend to light up.

[SVKSniper]

Now i see your ver. is 2014 max. I post version for 2014...

 

 

And one question how you export edm file from max? You click on left button and export as EDM file? Or use plugin for export?

test_omni_light(v2014).rar

[nighteyes2017]

ok your file works fine.

 

im using the file->save dialog and then marking as edm file

 

i did this with your file and that works. Same thing with my file doesn't work.

[nighteyes2017]

ok, im trying to figure this thing out here.

 

so i started a new file. trying to recreate your testfile. result: my testfile doesnt work. So im missing something here.

 

this is what i did.

 

create a plane. roughly 50x50m

create a omni light. gave it the propery NO_CONNECTOR = 0; in user definend

saved it

exported it via file->export as an edm file

 

the plane doesnt even show up now. im comparing the files, but cant find the difference

 

ive attached my own testfile wich doesnt work. what am i missing here?

test_omni_light(v2014).rar

[SVKSniper]

For plane you need connect material in editor (define color or default) and "make cool" ....than you can see plane on the ground with light

[nighteyes2017]

yep. that works. i just figured it out right before i saw your post. so thats 1 mystery solved.

 

now trying to figure out why its not working in my main model though. At least i got a little closer to the solution. many thanks for that! :thumbup:

[SVKSniper]

No problem with help.... to problem with light. Change near and far attenuation in setings for omnilgiht. Second....Change position light near to the hangar or warehouse...you see better if is exported or not.....Good luck!

[nighteyes2017]

ok i finally figured it out.

 

It was a scale problem :doh:

 

i tried merging my main model into my working test model to see if it was any sort of settings problem. When the merge was done. it suddenly set my main model into a clear perspective of size. Never noticed that. Even though i did went through the correct setup for the exporter, setting up the correct units ed. Somehow the scale got changed somewhere resulting in a way too big hangar.

 

placing an omni in there looks fine in 3dmax. the omni lights up everything regardless of the size. in the modelviewer however. the omnilight does not have the strength to light up the same area. So what you see is not what you get in this particular case.

 

many thanks again. without the testfiles, i never would have figured it out like that.